Tommy O’Brien emerged on the Norwood High School varsity golf scene as a freshman three years ago and quickly found himself elevated to the team’s number one golfer. This fall, as he entered his junior year, he found himself as a Mustang co-captain, something he had hoped would happen.

“I am really excited to take on a leadership role and glad for the opportunity,” the junior golfer said. “A captain in golf is not like any other sport; our main function is fundraising and generating money for the team, while also communicating with teammates about practices and matches.”

On the course, O’Brien goes about his business and leads by example playing the game the right way. 

“Tommy is quiet and leads by example by putting a lot into his game as well as working hard,” Norwood Coach Chuck Allen said. “He has a good temperament that is never too high or too low, and if he has a bad hole, he bounces right back.”

Allen’s only criticism, coming into the season of O’Brien is that he wanted the junior golfer, who was named to his first Tri-Valley League (TVL) All Star team last fall, to play a more consistent game. Thus far, he hasn’t disappointed his coach and Allen believes that come the end of the season he should be in the top three or four golfers within the league.

While O’Brien may find himself perched on the top to the TVL, he knows that the team cannot be successful without all of its players. Co-captain Maximo Deluca is the best senior on the team according to O’Brien. Deluca usually tees off in the second group of freshmen, and Zach Truman, who may only be a first-year player but he is already showing potential to be a really good golfer for Norwood.

Heading out in the first group with O’Brien is junior Max Conley.

“Max is another talented golfer,” O’Brien said. “He shoots in the 30’s, has improved his game, and I am excited to see what he will be able to accomplish next year.”

Through the early part of the season, the co-captain has been really impressed with the play of sophomore Rico Sheehan.

“He [Sheehan] has really improved from his freshman year,” O’Brien said. “I believe that he has the second-best average on the team, and while he did have a decent season last year, he has definitely taken his game up a notch.”

Coming into the year, the junior captain had a suspicion that the Norwood golfers were going to be a good team. Over the past few years, the Mustangs have continued to improve each year, and this year, they are hoping to do something that no Norwood golf team has ever done.

“We’re looking to win the Tri-Valley League, something that Norwood has never done, O’Brien said. “Coach Allen said that was our goal this year as well as getting back to the Sectionals (Norwood has already qualified for the Division 2 Central).”

Last fall, Norwood played in the Division 1 Sectionals and according to O’Brien they team did not have a good showing.

“The course was tough, the competition was really good and we struggled,” O’Brien said. “Although you’re playing good competition, it doesn’t affect your game and how you actually play – we just didn’t put up good scores.”

This fall, Norwood was bumped down into Division 2 where they will play more familiar teams, but again O’Brien says it really doesn’t matter, as in golf, you just need to go out and control the things you can while focusing on your ability to do your best.

“Golf is a team sport, but you basically play by yourself and hopefully when you’re finished your scores help your team win,” O’Brien said.

Although only a junior, O’Brien is hoping that in the future he can play golf on the collegiate level if the opportunity happens to arise. His main focus in college will be his academic studies, but golf is something that he loves and whenever he has free time his mind automatically goes to golf. He is hoping that his golf skills will be able to help aid his Mustang teammates  into a decent Sectional showing this year.